Your personal basic wardrobe plan

What are your most basic wardrobe needs ?
Long Holiday Weekend thoughts, and appropriate when the son of someone who was famously stylish is getting married today.

I’ve been reviewing what people suggest for wardrobe plans. The same items keep being mentioned as essential, many of which I never wear (Little Black Dress, blue jeans). And some of the things I always wear are never mentioned (lots of layers). Most of the plans aren’t relevant to other people round here either. (I did see someone wearing a black blazer ten days ago, though it was silk and unstructured. Yesterday there was an edgy one lined with stripes and worn with leggings. Not, I suspect, what the people who say you must have a black blazer are thinking of.)

My reactions helped me recognise my priorities, so here they are in case they help you too.

Of course wardrobe planning is more effective when you know your most flattering colours and shapes. And your personal style. And the needs of your lifestyle.
And after a classic closet clearout, so you only have things you love which are flattering and in good condition. (YouLookFab has a new post on closet editing.)

This is about how many clothes and other items you need, so you can fill in the gaps. (I’m surprised to find how many things I wear all the time, yet never think of having more than one of. . .)

Here’s a wardrobe.pdf of the list, to download and print.
Wheee, I’ve learned how to include a pdf 😀

– – –

Suggestions for using the list :

Add notes on the list if there are items you want to expand to make more distinctions, or garments you want to add.

Cross off all the items which you never or very rarely wear.
Cross them off thickly so you can’t read the words.

Use the left margin to write in these numbers.
For the remaining items :
do you wear them daily – mark with a 4
do you wear them weekly – mark with a 2

Anything worn less often – mark with a 1 if it’s essential even in a minimum wardrobe.
Otherwise leave it out.

The 4, 2, 1 tell you how many of these you need, minimum.

Have you got a clothes ‘signature’ – something you always wear or would like to wear ? Do you usually wear one type of garment, or perhaps one colour, or a type of fabric, or a type of trim. Or your signature might be a style element, perhaps a type of collar or pocket.

Put a special star by your ‘signature’ 😀
If you like to wear a ‘signature’, this is the first item to pay extra attention to, and expand beyond the smallest practical number.

A separate part of the plan :
Make sure you have an outfit for any rare event that may happen without much warning.
For example I’m retired and only wear casual clothes. But I make sure I have one outfit for a very formal daytime event such as a funeral. And one outfit for a very formal evening event such as a black tie dinner or concert. (We do have those here, and they’re in buildings with minimal heating.)

Do they make outfits ?
Or preferably co-ordinates – do all 4 items go with all 4 items in another group ? such as all tops go with all or most bottoms, all or most layers ?

What does that tell you about your priorities for adding to your wardrobe ?

What colours, fabrics, styles would be best for adding outfits ?

Are they items you would enjoy sewing yourself ?

Are you going to buy or sew ?

– – –

For me it did make a difference to make a written version.
I’m surprised how quickly it focussed attention on what I need.
But I am a ‘seeing things written in front of me’ person.

You might like to make separate lists for summer and winter.
Or for work clothes separate from casual clothes.
Or for special evenings. Or for pool/ beach.
Or halve the numbers for a travel wardrobe.

Um, do you need separate lists for what you actually wear now, and what you would like to wear. . .

– – –

I crossed out over half the things on the list.

Hmm, my favourite layering pullover tops and shirt jackets aren’t even mentioned in most wardrobe plans. At work it was always a turtle-neck cashmere sweater, or unusual blouses and watches. They don’t get much of a mention either.

Everyone’s needs will be individual and special. The numbers and types of clothes you need are very different for a person who lives in tees and jeans compared to someone who moves between gym, boardroom, opera. That’s why most published wardrobe plans are disappointing. Of course it’s marvellous if we find one that works for us. But I usually feel they’re devised for someone who has a different lifestyle, different personal style, different shape, different colouring. . .

Some wardrobe proposals are specific about styles and colours. Others are more general. The ones closest to my needs are Eileen Fisher’s capsules (many posts here), and the Sewing Workshop layering wardrobe (here’s my post on that). Many people with more classic taste love Tim Gunn’s 10 essential elements. (I haven’t seen his book.)

Here’s an example of how to be flexible with other people’s ideas. I can adapt Tim Gunn’s list to my own needs quite easily :

Do a search for ‘wardrobe basics’ to find many more possibilities. If you search for ‘wardrobe plan’ you get all the entries for all wardrobe contests at Stitchers Guild and Pattern Review – inspirational for style but not a wide range of garment types !

Make sure you’ve got everything you need to wear under your main outfits. Are any of your clothes transparent ? Underwear needs to co-ordinate too. What do you not mind showing ?

– – –

Of course when you’re filling your wardrobe gaps, it’s best if the new items go with at least two items you’ve already got. Make sure you end up with wearable outfits. For many people, co-ordinates are better still, but often a goal to work towards rather than something achievable quickly.

When you start it can be discouraging to realise how far you are from your best. Remember Princess Diana took several years to transform from frumpy to her own style. She certainly didn’t get it right every time.

Have a Happy Holiday weekend getting a clear idea of what you like and need.
What are your priorities ?
Choose beautiful flattering patterns and fabrics and start sewing.

thank you so much for all of this very helpful information. i love to sew and strongly dislike shopping for clothing these days. but, how to create something that will actually be put to good use is a real pickle to find oneself in. these lists are fantastic! btw your blog is also wonderful.